Insiders say the Liberals have “lessons to be learned” over their failed Mayo by-election campaign, but Georgina Downer appears likely to be re-endorsed as the party’s candidate as early as next week – despite some members privately declaring she will never win the seat.

It’s very hard for a crossbencher to get into the House of Representatives. But when they do, these small players can be difficult to blast out, for reasons revealed again in research carried out in the South Australian seat of Mayo this week.